Bundling strap

ABSTRACT

A bundling strap for looping about articles, comprised of an elongated, flexible, serrated body integral with and extending from an apertured head and terminating in a tail extension. One end of a dual-ended, obliquely angled, unidirectional locking means is hingedly coupled within a first transverse aperture in the head and is integral therewith, being adapted to lockingly engage the serrations on the elongated body inserted within a second transverse aperture in the head proportioned to conveniently receive the body therein, said locking means thereby preventing the attempted withdrawal of the body from the apertured head.

United States Patent inventor George H. Geislnger Mountainside, NJ.Appl. No. 1,143 Filed Jon. 7, 1970 Patented July 6, 1971 Assignee Thomas8: Betts Corporation Elizabeth, NJ.

BUNDLING STRAP 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 24/16 PB Int. Cl 365d 63/00 Field of Search 24/16 8?, 30.5 P, 17A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,980 5/1960 Rapata 24/16PB UX 9/1963 Martin et a1. 24/16 PB W 32 I 62 i; 64

N ll zltllli 3,155,987 11/1964 McGill 24/16 PBX 3,339,246 9/1967Geisinger 24/16 PB 3,486,200 12/1969 Orenick..... 24/16 PB 3,486,20112/1969 Bourne 24/16 PB Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Atrorney-David Teschner PATENTEU JUL BIS?! 8590.442

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GEORGE H. GEISINGER z; Wa

ATTORNEY BUNDLING STRAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The invention is directed to the field of bundling one or morearticles to form a more conveniently handled unit. Similarly, the devicemay be used to rapidly and conveniently secure one item to another.

2. Description ofthe Prior Art Prior art devices for bundling one ormore articles together generally required the addition of at least oneseparate member, such as a metal barb or the like, inserted in the headportion, in an attempt to provide adequate locking means to prevent theremoval of the strap body from the head after insertion therein, suchoperation being costly and time-consuming. Additionally, a relativelysmall dimensional deviation of the locking means from its specifiedcritical location within the head, and variation in the characteristicsof the materials used, would result in uncertain and generallyineffective locking action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes thedifficulties noted above with respect to known prior art devices byproviding an improved one-piece bundling strap which is less expensiveand more reliable than such prior art devices. Firstly, in the preferredembodiment, an elongated, serrated, flexible body portion extends fromone end of an apertured head portion a predetermined length, terminatingin a serrated tail portion. Hingedly coupled to the other end of thehead portion, displaceable wholly therewithin, integral therewith, anddepending inwardly within a first transverse aperture therein from afirst aperture defining surface thereof, is a locking member having atapered first end, a second end, and a flat, smooth surfacetherebetween, said surface obliquely angled with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the first transverse aperture. The first end of thelocking member extends at least partially into a second transverseaperture in the head portion of the device, causing a partialrestriction thereof, being displaceable therefrom to allow the insertionand passage therethrough, of the flexible body portion in a first orforward direction. An inclined portion adjacent the first end of thelocking member is configured to lockingly engage the complementarilycontoured serrations on a first surface of the body portion, preventingthe attempted removal of the body from the head portion after itsinsertion therein. A portion of the first aperture defining surfaceimmediately adjacent the second end of the locking member provides stopmeans therefor, restricting the displacement thereof resulting from theattempted withdrawal of the body portion from the apertured head,imparting a further locking action to the locking member. It istherefore an object of this invention to provide an improved bundlingstrap.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved bundlingstrap having an integrally formed locking member within the head portionthereof.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improvedbundling strap wherein the locking means is disposed wholly within thehead portion and displaceable between a first face and a second facethereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved bundlingstrap having a dual-ended, obliquely angled, unidirectional lockingmeans hingedly coupled to and integral with an inner aperture definingsurface within the head portion, and adapted to selectively engagecomplementary serrations on a first surface of the body portion,preventing the attempted withdrawal of said body portion from the headportion.

Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in thefollowing description and claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of theinvention, and the best modes which have been contemplated for carryingthem out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings in which similarelements are given similar reference characters:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a bundling strap constructed in accordancewith the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the bundling strap ofFIG. 1, taken along the lines 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view, in section, of the bundling strap ofFIG. 1, taken along the lines 2-2, looped about selective articles, andillustrating the unidirectional locking feature of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the head portion and part of the bodyportion of a bundling strap constructed in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the head portion and part of the bodyportion of a bundling strap constructed in accordance with a furtherembodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2 and3, there is shown a first embodiment of a bundling strap 20 constructedin accordance with the concepts of the invention. A serrated, elongated,flexible body portion 24 depends from a second end 28 of head portion22, terminating in a tail portion 26. A first transverse aperture 40 anda second transverse aperture 38 communicating therewith, at a commonjuncture 36, extend between a first face 58 and a second face 60 of saidhead p'ortion 22. Depending from, integral with, and hingedly coupledto, a first aperture defining surface 34 adjacent a first end 30 of thehead portion 22, is a locking means 32, comprising a tapered first end44, a second end 54, and a flat, smooth first surface 56 therebetween,the plane of first surface 56 of locking means 32 being inclinedsubstantially oblique to the longitudinal axis of first transverseaperture 40. A portion of the first end 44 of locking means 32 extendsat least partially into the second transverse aperture 38 of headportion 22, causing a partial restriction thereof. As may be better seenin FIG. 3, adjacent the first end 44 of locking means 32 is an inclinedportion 52 adapted to cooperate with a complementary vertical portion 50of one of a plurality of tooth-type serrations 42 disposed along firstsurface 64 of body portion 24, to lockingly engage body portion 24within the second transverse aperture 38 in head portion 22, preventingits removal therefrom. The first end 44 and the second end 54 of lockingmeans 32 are displaceably disposed wholly within head portion 22 betweenthe first face 58 and the second face 60 thereof. interposed between thefirst surface 56 of locking means 32 and the first aperture definingsurface 34 from which it depends is a necked-down portion 62, adapted tofacilitate the partial displacement of locking means 32, to permit thepassage of body portion 24 through the second transverse aperture 38upon its insertion therein in a first, engaging direction. Adjacent thesecond end 54 of locking means 32, and in close proximity thereto, is aportion 55 of the first aperture defining surface 34 which provides stopmeans for the second end 54, to restrict the displacement thereof, uponthe attempted removable of body portion 24 from head portion 22. A tailportion 26 extends from body portion 24 as a termination thereof,permitting the convenient insertion of body portion 24 within the secondtransverse aperture 38 which is configured to appropriately receive thebody portion 24 therein. Serrations 46 disposed along tail portion 26provide a more effective grasping surface for guiding and drawing bodyportion 24 through the second transverse aperture 38.

In practice, and referring now to FIG. 3, tail portion 26 is initiallyinserted within second transverse aperture 38 in a first engagingdirection, as shown, body portion 24 being looped about articles such as66 enclosed therein. Serrations 42, disposed along first surface 64 ofbody portion 24, forcibly displace first end 44 of locking means 32 topermit further passage of body portion 24 through the second transverseaperture 38 to obtain a sufficient tightness about articles 66. Upon therelease of body portion 24, locking means 32 tends to return to itsfirst normal position, inclined portion 52 of first end 44 cooperatingwith vertical surface 50 of an adjacent tooth-type serration 42 on bodyportion 24 to effect a unidirectional lock therebetween, body portion 24being gripped between locking means 32 and an adjacent wall of thesecond transverse aperture 38, and restrained from removal therefrom.The attempted withdrawal of body portion 24 from head portion 22 isprevented by the restraining action of inclined portion 52 of lockingmeans 32 against the adjacent vertical portion 50 of tooth-typeserration 42, the withdrawing force additionally causing a displacementof second end 54 of locking means 32 against the adjacent portion 55 ofthe first aperture defining surface 34, said portion 55 restricting thefurther displacement of second end 54 of locking means 32, increasingthe locking action thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown another embodiment of a bundlingstrap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. Bodyportion 70 extending a predetermined length from a second end 86 of headportion 68 has disposed thereon, along a first surface 72 thereof, aplurality of substantially regularly spaced tooth-type serrations 80 inthe form of two rows 90 and 92 in spaced apart substantially parallelrelationship. A generally bifurcated locking means 76, integral with,hingedly coupled to, and depending from, a first aperture definingsurface 84 within a first transverse aperture 82, provides a pair offirst ends 78 thereby, each extending at least partially into a secondtransverse aperture 74 in head portion 68, causing a partial restrictionthereof, in a manner similar to that described with respect to lockingmeans 32 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Similarly, unidirectional lockingengagement between first ends 78 and associated cooperating verticalportions of serrations 80 on body portion 70 is accomplished generallyas described hereabove with respect to bundling strap 20 of FIGS. 1, 2and 3. It will be understood that rows 90 and 92 may be laterallydisposed alternately along first surface 72 of body portion 70, toprovide an increased number of discrete locking positions.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a further embodiment of abundlin'g strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of theinvention. Body portion 96 extending from head portion 94 in a mannersimilar to that described above has disposed along both edges thereof aplurality of regular indentations 106. Looking means 102 is contouredsubstantially as described with respect to locking means 32 of FIGS. 1,2 and 3, and disposed within head portion 94 in similar manner,differing from locking means 32, however, in that first end 104 oflocking means 102 is generally bifurcated, each of the two parts thusformed being laterally disposed in spaced apart relationship and adaptedto cooperate in unidirectional locking engagement with indentations 6 ofbody portion 96 upon its insertion within second transverse aperture 100of head portion 94, an inclined portion (not shown) adjacent first end104 of locking means 102 being adapted to engage an adjacent verticalsurface of a cooperating portion of indented body portion 96, to preventthe removal thereof from head portion 94. It will be understood thatalthough body portion 96 is shown indented along both of its edges, theindentations may be confined to a single edge without impairing thelocking action thereof. it will also be understood that the indentationsalong one edge of body portion 96 may be disposed in alternate lateralrelationship with those of the other edge, to provide an increasednumber of discrete locking positions thereby.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege I claim are defined as follows:

1. A bundling strap for looping about articles, comprising: a headportion having a first face and a second face thereon; a tail portion;an elongated flexible body portion therebetween; s'afdhead portionhaving a first and a second transverse apertui'e'there through extendingbetween said first face and said second face thereof, said secondtransverse aperture communicating with said first transverse aperture ata common juncture therebetween, and proportioned to receive therein saidbody portion, said first transverse aperture having a first aperturedefining surface therein remote from said juncture and adjacent a firstend of said head portion; and locking means integral with said firstaperture defining surface, hingedly coupled thereto generallyintermediate said head portion first and second faces and depending fromsaid first aperture defining surface by means of a necked-down portionthereon, said locking means having a tapered first end, a second end,and a first surface therebetween, said first surface of said locking,means being inclined in oblique planar relationship with said firstaperture defining surface, said first end of said locking meansextending towards said first face of said head portion and into saidsecond transverse aperture causing at least a partial restrictionthereof, said second end of said locking means directed rearwardlytowards said second face of said head portion and positioned whollywithin said first transverse aperture, said necked-down portion beingpositioned generally intermediate said locking means first and secondends; said body portion extending from a second end of said head portiona predetermined length, said second end of said head portion beingdisposed substantially opposite said first end thereof, said bodyportion having a first surface thereon adapted to at least partiallydeflect said locking means upon the passage of said body portion throughsaid second transverse aperture in said head portion, said second end ofsaid locking means being displaceable towards said first aperturedefining surface, said surface providing stop means for said second end,to restrict the displacement thereof.

2. A bundling strap as defined in claim 1 wherein said first end of saidlocking means is disposed wholly within said head portion, intermediatesaid first face and said second face thereof, and below said first face.

3. A bundling strap as defined in claim 2 wherein said second end ofsaid locking means is disposed wholly within said head portionintermediate said first face and said second face thereof.

4. A bundling strap as defined in claim 3 wherein said first surface ofsaid locking means is substantially smooth.

5. A bundling strap as defined in claim 4 wherein said first end of saidlocking means is essentially bifurcated.

6. A bundling strap as defined in claim 5 wherein said body portion hasa plurality of substantially regular indentations along at least oneedge thereof for engaging said first end of said locking means.

7. A bundling strap as defined in claim 4 wherein said body portion hasa plurality of substantially regular depressions in said first surfacethereof for engaging said first end of said locking means.

8. A bundling strap as defined in claim 7 wherein said depressions arecontoured to form a plurality of substantially tooth-type serrations,each having an inclined surface and a substantially vertical surface,said vertical surface disposed generally perpendicular to the plane ofsaid first surface of said body portion, for engaging said first end ofsaid locking means.

9. A bundling strap as defined in claim 8 further comprising an inclinedportion adjacent said first end of said locking means proportioned toselectively engage an adjacent vertical surface of said tooth-typeserration on said body portion upon the insertion of said body portionwithin said head portion, providing a unidirectional lock thereby, saidinclined portion of said first end being displaceable into furtherengagement with an adjacent portion of said vertical surface of saidserration, said second end of said locking means being simultaneouslydisplaceable towards said first aperture defining surface, said surfaceproviding stop means for said second end, preventing the furtherdisplacement thereof.

10. A bundling strap as defined in claim 1 wherein said tail portion isat least partially serrated.

11. A bundling strap as defined in claim 1 wherein said first face ofsaid head portion is disposed in substantially parallel planarrelationship with said second face thereof.

12. A bundling strap as defined in claim 1 wherein said body portiondepends from said second end of said head portion substantially adjacentsaid second face thereof.

13. A bundling strap as defined in claim 1 wherein said first surface ofsaid locking means is substantially flat.

1. A bundling strap for looping about articles, comprising: a headportion having a first face and a second face thereon; a tail portion;an elongated flexible body portion therebetween; said head portionhaving a first and a second transverse aperture there through extendingbetween said first face and said second face thereof, said secondtransverse aperture communicating with said first transverse aperture ata common juncture therebetween, and proportioned to receive therein saidbody portion, said first transverse aperture having a first aperturedefining surface therein remote from said juncture and adjacent a firstend of said head portion; and locking means integral with said firstaperture defining surface, hingedly coupled thereto generallyintermediate said head portion first and second faces and depending fromsaid first aperture defining surface by means of a necked-down portionthereon, said locking means having a tapered first end, a second end,and a first surface therebetween, said first surface of said lockingmeans being inclined in oblique planar relationship with said firstaperture defining surface, said first end of said locking meansextending towards said first face of said head portion and into saidsecond transverse aperture causing at least a partial restrictionthereof, said second end of said locking means directed rearwardlytowards said second face of said head portion and positioned whollywithin said first transverse aperture, said necked-down portion beingpositioned generally intermediate said locking means first and secondends; said body portion extending from a second end of said head portiona predetermined length, said second end of said head portion beingdisposed substantially opposite said first end thereof, said bodyportion having a first surface thereon adapted to at least partiallydeflect said locking means upon the passage of said body portion throughsaid second transverse aperture in said head portion, said second end ofsaid locking means being displaceable towards said first aperturedefining surface, said surface providing stop means for said second end,to restrict the displacement thereof.
 2. A bundling strap as defined inclaim 1 wherein said first end of said locking means is disposed whollywithin said head portion, intermediate said first face and said secondface thereof, and below said first face.
 3. A bundling strap as definedin claim 2 wherein said second end of said locking means is disposedwholly within said head portion intermediate said first face and saidsecond face thereof.
 4. A bundling strap as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid first surface of said locking means is substantially smooth.
 5. Abundling strap as defined in claim 4 wherein said first end of saidlocking means is essentially bifurcated.
 6. A bundling strap As definedin claim 5 wherein said body portion has a plurality of substantiallyregular indentations along at least one edge thereof for engaging saidfirst end of said locking means.
 7. A bundling strap as defined in claim4 wherein said body portion has a plurality of substantially regulardepressions in said first surface thereof for engaging said first end ofsaid locking means.
 8. A bundling strap as defined in claim 7 whereinsaid depressions are contoured to form a plurality of substantiallytooth-type serrations, each having an inclined surface and asubstantially vertical surface, said vertical surface disposed generallyperpendicular to the plane of said first surface of said body portion,for engaging said first end of said locking means.
 9. A bundling strapas defined in claim 8 further comprising an inclined portion adjacentsaid first end of said locking means proportioned to selectively engagean adjacent vertical surface of said tooth-type serration on said bodyportion upon the insertion of said body portion within said headportion, providing a unidirectional lock thereby, said inclined portionof said first end being displaceable into further engagement with anadjacent portion of said vertical surface of said serration, said secondend of said locking means being simultaneously displaceable towards saidfirst aperture defining surface, said surface providing stop means forsaid second end, preventing the further displacement thereof.
 10. Abundling strap as defined in claim 1 wherein said tail portion is atleast partially serrated.
 11. A bundling strap as defined in claim 1wherein said first face of said head portion is disposed insubstantially parallel planar relationship with said second facethereof.
 12. A bundling strap as defined in claim 1 wherein said bodyportion depends from said second end of said head portion substantiallyadjacent said second face thereof.
 13. A bundling strap as defined inclaim 1 wherein said first surface of said locking means issubstantially flat.